Twinsoholic

An interesting, under-the-radar player this season has been Danny Andrade. He started out terrible this season, but he got better, swatted at least 14 homers, got promoted, and played shortstop, 3rd, and 2nd. An international signee projected to be a shortstop, he may have grown out of the position, and he may never have a stronger season than the one just concluding. However, he might also be an international player who figures it out and continue to rise towards making the Twins sometime during the next couple of years.

Is Morris tipping his pitches? He was great but for the last 5 or 6 outings, he has given up runs each time.

Keaschall should have caught Contrearas’ shallow fly. It landed just a little bit in front of him. Gotta dive, gotta keep the runners off the base.

The Tigers just promoted Max Clark. He was drafted just ahead of Walker Jenkins. Make of his promotion what you will vis-a-vis calls from some to promote Jenkins. Apparently Clark has been on fire offensively for several weeks (his overall numbers are not outstanding).

When Sands returns, the Twins will likely send Adams down and not Lawrence.

1985Fan wrote: “I see Morris is making the start today. I hope he does well and can stick in the rotation. They need him to take Ober’s spot.” Gallagher has 10 scoreless innings over his last 2 starts at St. Paul. If Morris stays in the rotation for a while, perhaps Gallagher can step into to Morris’s pen role. He only has 5 AAA starts to date, but a view in the pen might be in the cards if he does well in his next start and if anyone else gets injured or if Lawrence cannot show that he has what it takes. Sands will be coming back soon, replacing Adams.

The Twins just added Mike Paredes to their roster. They recalled Adams. They sent Klein down and put Ober on the IL.

I cannot believe the Twins did not make a roster move after Saturday’s pitching meltdown (8 run inning). DFA Garcia and replace with Rojas. If Ryan has to go in the IL, then call up Mathews.

Banda the butcher!

Lee is too slow for the double steal, and he was too slow leaving third once the catcher began his throw to 2nd. Crazy play calling.

Is Lee going to get Wally Pipped?

LaTroy is great, but I see the Audra Martin interviews as pointlessly interrupting the televising of the games. I don’t think they really know how to use her effectively. Are her in-game reports really needed?

The starter-only-throws 65 to 80 pitches is a paradigm in search of a shift of perspective, a perspective inorganic to the game. If a starter averages 15 pitches per inning, then 5 innings equals 75 pitches. If he throws 16 pitches per inning for 5 innings, that is 80 pitches. The team then relies on relievers to pitch 4 innings per game. Yikes!!! In a 6 consecutive game stretch, starters by this model throw, combined, 30 innings and relievers 24. How can you not tear up a lot of your relief pitchers? The Twins are lucky this year because Duran, Jax, Varland, Coulombe, Stewart, and Sands are an above average group. The team overall record, nevertheless, is a losing one for reasons related to terrible hitting with runners in scoring position, lousy team speed, not the best defense, as well as a spate of injuries. Aim for at least 7 innings from starters in the minors as well as the major league. Think of the impact on the relievers. Aim for increasing team speed and defense. We saw some more lackadaisical plays tonight in the outfield. Props to Bader, though, for robbing a potential HR. Draft and develop (and trade for) impact position players (speed is impactful as is being able to put the ball in play). Sounds simple, but some teams manage to do this more consistently than the Twins.

What is the point of the extended interruptions by Audra? New pitcher comes in, but that is less important than a “pro” wrestler. The other interruptions during the series are just as annoying.

Keaschall brought his bat, glove, and speed to the lineup. This is one of the slowest Twins teams that I can remember. The team needs hitters, but it particularly needs hitters with speed so that they won’t get gunned down repeatedly at home when Tommy Watkins windmills them around third base. I hope Gaspar has a successful MLB career, but given his tool kit, the addition of a lot more speed would really make that more likely to happen than not.